# How to Change Max Players on Your Left 4 Dead 2 Server (/docs/left-4-dead-2/player-slots)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

L4D2's vanilla limits are tied to game mode:

| Mode     | Default Players | Notes                            |
| -------- | --------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Co-op    | **4**           | 4 survivors                      |
| Versus   | **8**           | 4 survivors + 4 special infected |
| Survival | **4**           | Defense mode                     |
| Realism  | **4**           | Hardcore co-op                   |
| Scavenge | **8**           | Versus mode variant              |

<Tabs items={['Via Startup (Recommended)', 'Via Launch Parameter']}>
  <Tab value="Via Startup (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open Startup [#open-startup]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Startup** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set Max Players [#set-max-players]

        Find the **Max Players** field and enter your desired count.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart from **Console** to apply.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via Launch Parameter">
    Add to the startup command line:

    ```
    -maxplayers 8
    ```

    Restart the server to apply.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Higher Player Counts via SourceMod [#higher-player-counts-via-sourcemod]

L4D2's hard-coded limits can be raised with SourceMod plugins for custom game modes:

* **left4downtown2** — extends the player limit to support 8+ players in co-op
* **L4DToolZ** — server tools including player slot extension

Install via [SourceMod](https://www.sourcemod.net) and place plugins in `addons/sourcemod/plugins/`. Plugins like these are commonly used for 8-player co-op servers.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Configuration](/docs/left-4-dead-2/server-config)
* [Connect to Your Server](/docs/left-4-dead-2/join-server)